The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-09-24
The Present Agricultural situation.
n. G. Libby in Belfast JournaIl

a. Y. IlDDy IN Belfast journal.
The farmers of Waldo County. and of the
rest of the State, are just now in query to
know what to do with the abundant hay and
grain crops, which are very much above the
average taking into consideration the second
crop which we have never seen surpassed,
our hillsides and valleys having the appear
ance of a full grown hay field.
Two classes of stock we think can be kept
at 40 advantage and profit, namely, cows
and sheep. The low price of beef makes the
production Of that commodity a losing bust
ness; yet no one knows how soon the mar
kets will change aud beef take BOOM This
we predict VIII come about in the course of
time when the great western praires are cut
up into homes for the countless millions who
are hooking to our States. However, several
years may elapse before the cattle on those
9oundiess plalns become exhausted or SO re-
duced as to check the supply. Meanwhile
the Farmers Of Maine must study the ques-
ton OF supporting themselves on their farms,
which is quite problem under the regime of
low prices for all farm products.
Why we think dairying will pay for the
next year to come is that we look for all
dairy products to boom on account of severe
drought that has devastated a large section
Of the West taking in several States that are
largely engaged in this business. This eyi
ing an order this week from farmer in the
State of Connecticut for 20 Maine cows, hav-
ing furnished the same party with the same
number last season, l wish to place the
whole transaction before the farmers of
Waldo county and see if they cannot profit
by the details. | furnished this party with
twenty Maine cows, none to be over five
years ole, with good points, not over large
what are known as store cows; those that
had been MIXED all summer-at $40 each
dali in Dri.v
in Maine S15 to SIS. Such animals can be
bought now at the same figures. The Con-
nectcut man invested $500 in twenty head
and took them home and turned them into
his second crop. He then bought sufficient
number of calves to take their milk and be-
tween Sept. LIST and JAN list he sold off $3.50
worth of veal, which always brings a good
price at that season of the year. Then the
cows were dried off and set to come in in
September and October They were win
tered in careless way, not tied up, having
the run of barn cellar, stacks of corn fod-
der, straw, and plenty of pure water. OF
course they were thin in the spring, but on
being turned to pasture they gained very
rapidly and were sold last week, a nice lot of
springs, at $40 each; giving the purchaser a
good handsome margin for his rough fodder
ana use OF money and trouble, and retaining
sle dressing, very essential part for the
luIther enrichment of his farm.
NOW we know that many of our farmers
tnuld make money out of just such an opera
tloll, as cows coming in in the fan months
are Always IN demand at good prices.
70 make sheep pay best we would NOT rec
0mnend anything but high feed. Anv farmer
who WIN start in with a good large sized lot
OF sheep in good condition and will food
them on early cut hay and give them ona
quart of corn per day all through the winter ter
whether they lamb early or late. we THAI
win be pleased with the results of his operaN
ton. He will have no trouble with sick
Sham : a Orpat e.,
many ills incident to tloeks of Sheep win
tered by careless farmers.
In breeds of sheep we prefer Shropshire
Downs, Oxford Downs, or South Downs, al